Ammunition



April 6, 1943. J; H.'HODGSON AMMUN IT ION Filed July ll, 1940 IE E1111 V INVENTOR vase/7h 15. H0

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES T OFF AMMUNITION Joseph H. Hodgson, Westport, Conn., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware 2 Claims.

This invention relates to ammunition and more particularly to projectiles for small caliber cartridges designed for use in shooting galleries.

In the use of lead bullets in small caliber sizes for gallery shooting, there is great danger of ricochet bullets and the return of disintegrated particles of the bullet to the shooting position, thereby endangering the shooter. The bullets travel at a high velocity, and it is very desirable that they be completely disintegrated into small particles that will not fiy back and will not result in accidental injury to the shooter and other persons standing nearby. If the fragments are large, they are liable to be projected in various directions and may also be deflected from the walls and be returned to the shooting position.

The present invention contemplates the use of a bullet composed of lead and iron oxide, and having a non-brittle sheath. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross section of a swaging die that may be used to form the bullets.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of an assembled projectile and cartridge case.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, except that it shows the case and projectile in section.

The finely divided and powdered lead particles may be obtained in any of the usual manners and may be mechanically mixed with iron oxide (FezOs). The by-product of a Lurgi kiln or a kiln used for the reduction of iron pyrites to sulphur dioxide in the production of sulphuric acid may serve as one source of the iron oxide (the iron oxide being collected by a Cottrell precipitator) It is quite evident that the iron oxide is a comparatively cheap ingredient and can be readily obtained. The finely divided lead and finely divided iron oxide may be placed in any type of suitable mixing device and intimately mixed. The mixture of iron oxide and lead is extruded into Wire form by means of the usual extrusion chamber and plunger therein, similar to that shown in Woodford, No. 2,168,381. The wire thus formed has a sheath of non-brittle character which has suflicient strength and toughness to be easily crimped and have a grease groove placed thereon. The wire may be cut off into proper lengths and then inserted into the swaging die of Fig. 1, which consists of a chamber l and punches H and I2. The punches II and I2 have suitable recesses I3 and I4, respectively, to form the desired shape of the projectile. Holes l5, communicating with the central aperture of the die 10, may be provided at either side of the projectile, these holes being for the purpose of allowing the excess lead to be squirted therethrough as the projectile is formed. The

squirt hole lead, as this may be termed, may be suitably granulated and put into the lead and iron oxide being mixed and thereby save what would otherwise be wasted lead. The formed the cartridge case ll having previously had the'- priming mixture 20 and powder 2| placed therein. The drawing shows the sheath in slightly exaggerated form. The projectile may then have a suitable grease groove l8 placed thereon by the conventional grooving tools, the substantially continuous sheath allowing of such an operation. In order that the joint at the mouth of the cartridge case I! and the projectile may be made a tighter fit, it is possible with the continuous sheath to use a conventional lead knife and form a groove IS in the surface of the pro- .iectile close to the mouth of the case ll. This will serve to push the lead more tightly into the crimping space.

Break-up tests have shown that a bullet made in accordance with this invention will disintegrate into particles that will not be dangerous. It has been found that if as little as 1% of iron oxide be mixed with the lead particles that the result will be satisfactory. The preferred composition is 4% by weight of iron oxide particles and 96% by weight of lead particles. The lead used may, for example, be powdered so that 100% will pass a 50 mesh screen, and 100% will remain on a 300 mesh screen. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific quantities and fineness just mentioned.

It is seen therefore that by this invention, a bullet or projectile has been produced that has a tough exterior sheath capable of being correctly processed. The projectile is also sufilcient- 1y brittle to properly disintegrate upon impact with a target. The projectile is also not easily affected or corroded by climatic conditions, and the mixture is easily controlled. It is evident that the form shown is merely illustrative and the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A projectile consisting substantially of lead particles and finely divided iron oxide particles, said lead and iron oxide particles being inclosed in a substantially continuous sheath.

2. A projectile consisting substantially of lead particles and at least 1% by weight of finely divided iron oxide particles, said lead and iron oxide particles being enclosed in a substantially continuous sheath.

JOSEPH H. HODGSON. 

